Introducing Orkney

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A guided tour or Orkney can be enjoyed in 3 days from Inverness, but of course a longer visit would allow you to visit more of the less-explored islands too. Orkney is well worth a visit as a sole location, but we can build this into a longer Multi-day tour,
or add it in to a North Coast 500 tour.

We at Rustic Tours would love to take you on a journey across the sea to Orkney, an archipelago off the north coast of Scotland made up of 27 islands.

Orkney is one of our favourite locations. And not just because of its spectacular cliffs and rolling green pastures...

Being a historical enthusiast Orkney is scattered with many ancient monuments. Mysterious sites such as the Ring of Brodgar, the Stones of Stenness or the Neolithic Village of Skara Brae are a marvel to behold, and often guests leave with more questions than answers; who built these sites? What were they used for? How did these people view the world around them? What did they believe in?

If you choose to visit Orkney with us, your Rustic driver-guide will take you on a journey spanning 5500 years in time, from the Neolithic up to present day. While we don’t have all the answers about these mysterious sites, we can help paint a picture of the past and share some local theories, stories and myths to help bring these locations to life.

Orkney also has a profound military history from the 1st and 2nd World Wars. Scapa Flow, the sea waters that the Orkney Islands surround, is noted as a significant naval base during the 20th century wars. On a Rustic guided tour of Orkney we can take you to the Italian Chapel built by prisoners of war, and the Churchill Barriers that link the islands together.

There are some great walking opportunities to explore some of the abandoned military lookout points, or to Kitchener’s Memorial. Stromness also has a fascinating museum where you can learn more about Orkney’s significance during these times.

​A tour to Orkney is great for the nature lovers. The summer months see the coastlines decorated with blossoming wildflowers. Bird-watchers can enjoy the many Bird Reserves on the Island wetlands, or go spotting for Puffins, Gannets and Razorbills along the coastlines. We can take you to the best spots to look for selkies (seals), and you can watch out for Whales and Orcas as we cross the Pentland Firth.